Inspiring Conversations with Sydney Pritikin of Gigi & Poppi/ Sydney Pritikin-Creative Freelancer & Digital Marketer

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sydney Pritikin. 

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Since I can remember, I’ve always wanted to be two things: a mom and a fashion designer. In fact, in preschool, I was dubbed “most likely to be a fashion designer,” and I still have that certificate! When it became time to decide what I was going to pursue in college, Miami University (in Oxford)- at the time- fashion design was not offered as a major, only a minor. So, I blindly chose my major as Strategic Communication and happily minored in fashion design and management, and leadership. I quickly found out that I was not, in fact, a fashion designer. While I found SOME joy in creating and designing, it was not my strong suite. And to all those eighteen-year-old wide-eyed eager college freshmen I say to you: explore. Take classes that interest you. Find a mentor. Read and educate yourself about the different programs your university has to offer. I’m a big believer that your major in college isn’t the end all be all, especially with technology at our fingertips. Rather, earning a degree is more about discipline, adaptation, and learning how to be a critical thinker. However- you are not meant to know what you want to do with the rest of your life at such a young age. I joke that I’m 28 years old and still don’t know what I want to be when I grow up! After graduation, I took a job as an Assistant Store Manager for Kohls near my hometown in Cincinnati. Based on my experience with retail management and various internships- I knew what this job what would entail. Long hours, holidays spent away from my family, and dealing with some not-so-happy customers. I was never one for a traditional 9-5 desk job (and am still not that way!) so for me, at the time, this job seemed like the perfect fit. Those two years were tough and a dose of reality. But in hindsight, I am SO glad I did it. I learned how to run a business, management, how to be taken seriously, time management, etc. To this day, I am so grateful for everything that job taught me. I remember feeling a bit of imposter syndrome. Like, I am a 22-year-old college graduate managing a two-story building with 50+ associates and you trust me to do so? It gave me a lot of confidence- and most importantly- it taught me how to manage and work with people from all different generational cohorts. My point is, you may be in a job that isn’t your dream job or may not even be in the industry you desire to be in, but if you are open to it, you will learn a lot about yourself professionally and personally. Keep going. 

It was during my time at Kohl’s that I met my husband, Marcus. I quickly realized I wanted a normal twenty-something-year-old’s life, and I didn’t want to work weekends and holidays anymore. When I met marcus, he was renovating his house and I was SO intrigued. I’ve always had a love for real estate and interior design. When I was four, my parents divorced. I just counted, and I remember at least six different homes my dad lived in around Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky. He was always looking for an opportunity and he would flip these homes to make a profit. So, after we successfully renovated our first home together, Marcus and I decided to open our own property management business together. 

Marcus ran all the real estate transactions (he is a licensed agent) while I managed the accounts receivable. Within one year, we had over 200 doors we were managing- with one employee. Working together and living together in a 980-square-foot house teaches you a lot about yourself and your partner. We were looking to expand our team and then COVID hit, and people couldn’t pay their rent. It was a rough business to be in. At the end of the day, we are humans. But we also had investors to answer to. It was a tough decision, but the state of the world was scary. We decided to move on. 

Fast forward a few years later and now Marcus is doing property management and flipping homes for himself-full time! Another great example of accepting the journey- had it not been for our property management business he would not have the knowledge and skillset to pursue his dream! 

It was also in 2020 that we got married and got pregnant shortly after. I was studying to get my real estate license and managing a small boutique in Hyde Park, Leeli & Lou. I completed all my classes and was studying for the exam. At the time, the real estate market was BOOMING. From our personal real estate purchases, I saw how hard our agent was working- and at all hours of the day too. It was then I realized I’d be going back to exactly what I said I didn’t want to be doing- and now with a baby on the way. So, I decided not to take the real estate exam. 

Maya was born and I was struggling with my identity outside of motherhood. Looking back, I battled with postpartum depression. I couldn’t see my life outside of Maya. Isn’t this what I wanted, after all? I was so happy to have a beautiful, happy, healthy little girl. But I knew I wanted to also provide for my family and find a creative outlet. 

I’ve always wanted to start my own fashion blog or women’s boutique. But after managing Leeli & Lou, I realized how expensive the overhead of having a brick-and-mortar store was. So, I started doing a lot of research. I wanted an online store, but what would I sell? Maya had more clothes than I knew what to do with. I was changing her outfit multiple times a day and of course, posting her on my Instagram in these adorable outfits. So many people were always asking me where her outfits were from, commenting on how I styled them, etc. And thus Gigi & Poppi was born. There were also two other benefits to selling baby clothing: smaller clothes require less room for inventory and smaller clothes weigh less for shipping. These three reasons made it a no-brainer. My biggest advice? Sell what makes sense and comes naturally to you and DO YOUR RESEARCH! 

I then recruited my sister Jordan, a very talented graphic designer, illustrator, and writer. We make a great team. What I lack, she makes up for, and vice versa. She designed our logo and all of our marketing collateral, among other things. Together, we decided on the name Gigi & Poppi. We had this name prior to our business idea. Gigi is our mom, and Gigi is the name she goes by to her ten grandchildren. Poppi is our stepdad who passed away a little over two years ago. The reality is, especially in retail, owning a small business is hard. We have yet to pay ourselves and it surely isn’t our only source of income. But success and happiness are NOT always (and shouldn’t be in my opinion!) monetary. We love the dedicated time we get to spend with one another, and we’ve already learned so much. We laugh a lot and have made a lot of mistakes. But there is no one else I’d rather be doing this with. We’ve met so many amazing people through Gigi & Poppi and until it becomes something we no longer enjoy; we will continue to laugh through the mistakes together. 

In tandem, I am a creative freelancer and content creator. I strongly believe my journey has led me to exactly where I am intended to be! 

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
My road has been anything but smooth. Winding, rough, and a few potholes along the way, for sure. But let me preface this by saying I am indebted to my parents for giving me the gift of education. I understand I was born into privilege and had it not been for the opportunities I was given; I wouldn’t be where I am today. So, when I describe my challenges, both professionally and personally, please keep this in mind. In December of 2018, I received a phone call that I would describe as a defining moment in my life. My sister called to tell me that my dad, a fifty-two-year-old healthy man, had suddenly and tragically died. There was life before and after that moment and life as I knew it before was gone. I had just turned twenty-four and was only five months into dating Marcus. The next few months were a blur and I really struggled. I was in survival mode. Thankfully, I was able to receive paid time off from Kohl’s- and I took a month off. 

I remember trying to go back to work and I felt like a shell of a human. I couldn’t do it. And so, I quit. And guess what? The wheels kept on turning. I think it’s so easy to feel like you are irreplaceable in a job. I felt like I was letting down my team and my bosses. I did what I had to do for myself and that is when I realized we are all easily replaceable. So, stop giving your soul to your job. Put your best foot forward, sure, but unless you are working for yourself, stop saying late and arriving early. Don’t miss your daughter’s dance recital to finish a contract. A job is just something you do. Not who you are. The work will always be there. You will not. Losing my dad forced me to realign my priorities. I took a lot of time to think about what I wanted out of this life. I took a hard look at my friendships; my environment and I was brutally honest with myself. I am in no way saying you must have a parent die or some major life event to have a life-altering realization. In fact, I am doing the opposite! We only get one shot at this life- make it worthwhile. And screw societies expectations. Are they paying your bills? Are they lying in your bed at night? No. Do what makes you happy. Work hard. But not so hard you regret aspects of your life. 

Around eighteen months after my dad died, we got news that my stepdad (who has been in my life since I was seven) was diagnosed with stage four pancreatic cancer. No one has ever survived pancreatic cancer. He was diagnosed April 11th and died June 20th, the day before Father’s Day and exactly one week after he was able to bless my marriage. Of course, I went through the stages of grief. I was angry for a period and wanted to blame someone or something. To this day, my friends are always saying how “strong” I am. But what other choice do I have? These are the cards I was dealt. And so, I just choose to use my grief in a productive way. It’s a decision I must make daily. Sure, I have my days and moments. And that’s okay. I’ve learned to take it day by day. I think, if anything, death has taught me to stop overthinking and just do. The first step is to make the decision. Make the website, write the blog, film the content. Nobody is looking that hard at you, I promise. You are the only person in charge of your happiness and every decision you make should be aligned with that one goal in mind: to be happy and fulfilled. Isn’t that what we all strive for? 

My grief journey has greatly shaped me both professionally and personally. I take adversity a lot easier now. Most importantly, I manifest what I want! My husband and I joke that “things just keep happening for us.” But there is no fairy godmother dropping dust to the lucky ones. Although I like to think my dad and stepdad are pulling strings to make things happen for me, I also believe in manifestation and hard work. 

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Gigi & Poppi is an online baby clothing and accessories boutique. 85% percent of our products are made in the USA from small businesses. Of those small businesses a huge percent of our products are from women-owned businesses. Our goal is to buy clothing and accessories 100% made in USA. We curate timeless, cozy essentials for your baby and/or toddler. 

I am also a creative freelancer, and I am open to work! Recently, I have been focusing on building my content creation portfolio- I’d love if you could give me a follow-on Instagram or TikTok and I am open to any and all feedback! Additionally, services I offer as a creative freelancer range from styling (clothing, home, photoshoot, etc.), product and lifestyle photography and videography, content creation, social media marketing, and brand strategy. If you are interested in working with me, please send me an email and I’d be happy to send you my portfolio and pricing guide! 

Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs, or other resources you think our readers should check out?
Favorite podcasts: The Money with Katie Show- allllll about financial literacy, she breaks it down easily for listeners. I am a big believer women are still undereducated when it comes to finance because of the role media plays in women in finance. Fun fact- one of my best friends in high school graduated with Katie! 

The Midwest Mama Podcast- duh! Here, producer Marissa Abernathy and my dear friend chats with women entrepreneurs around the Cincinnati area. You can hear me talk all about the strategy behind the second edition of Midwest Mama on episode seven! 

GOAL Digger (Jenna Kutcher)- What is not to love about her? I have learned SO much about branding and marketing from her podcast. 

We Can Do Hard Things (Glennon Doyle)- Specifically, listen to the episode: Pro-Aging: Why the Best is Yet to Come. I’ve always found aging fascinating, especially as a woman and the role the media plays in aging. 

Books (the only thing I read these days are self-help books, finance books, or books about motherhood) 

A place to Belong- Amber O’Neal Johnston A book about diversity and inclusion in the home 

10% Happier-Dan Harris 

The Automatic Millionaire- David Bach 

The How-Yrsa Daley-Ward 

Contact Info:

• Website: www.gigiandpoppi.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sydneypritikin/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sydneypritikin/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sydneypritikin/
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@sydneypritikinugc

Image Credits
bird and rose photography
Andrea Sabugo